CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS OF FIVE DOMINANT SPECIES IN MIXED DECIDUOUS FOREST, THUNG SALANG LUANG, NATIONAL PARK, THAILAND Chattanong Podong 1,5,*, Roongreang Poolsiri 2, Klaus Katzensteiner 3, Patthra Pengthamkeerati 4 and Piyapong Tongdeenok 5 1 Department of Environmental and Energy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Uttaradit Rajabhat University, Uttaraidt, Thailand 53000 2 Department of Sivilculture, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand 10900 3 Institute of Forest Ecology, Department of Forest and Soil science, University of Natural Resource and Applied Life Science, Gregor Mendel Straße 33, A-1190 Wien, Vienna, Austria 4 Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand 10900 5 Department of Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand 10900 * e-mail chattanong@hotmail.com Abstract Plant photosynthesis process is accumulated carbon and stored as biomass in all parts of tree. Carbon sequestration rate has been measured for dominant species in secondary mixed deciduous forest, Thung Salang Luang National Park, Lower Northern part of Thailand and aboveground biomass carbon has been analyzed by CHN analyzer. The specific objective of this article is to measure carbon sequestration rate and aboveground biomass carbon potential of five dominant species as Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii. The percentage of carbon content (except root) in the aboveground biomass of Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii were 45.61, 46.31, 47.49, 46.42 and 46.17, respectively. Total aboveground biomass carbon stock per hectare for Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii were 4,531.76 kg C ha -1, 629.05 kg C ha -1, 5.25 kg C ha -1, 5.25 kg C ha -1 and 58.76 kg C ha -1,respectively. Keywords: carbon sequestration, aboveground biomass carbon stock, secondary mixed deciduous forest, dominant species Introduction The continuing rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration will most likely affect the stability of earth s climate system, the health of humans, and the sustainability of socioeconomic systems. Carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems has been one of the major factors affecting CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere (IPCC, 2001). Quantification of the spatial and temporal variability of carbon sources and sink at regional to global scales has been challenging because land-atmosphere carbon exchange is influenced by many, including land use and land cover change, CO 2 fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer and climate variability and change. Trees act as a sink for CO 2 by fixing carbon during photosynthesis and storing excess 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 1
carbon as biomass. The net long term CO 2 source or sink dynamics of forest change through time as trees grow, die and decay. In addition, human influences on forests can further affect CO 2 source or sink dynamics of forest through such factors as fossil fuel emissions and harvesting or utilization of biomass (Nowak and Crane, 2002). As tree grow and their biomass increases, they absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it the plant tissue (Mathew et al., 2000) resulting in growth of different parts. Active absorption of CO 2 from the atmosphere in photosynthesis process and its subsequent storage in the biomass of growing trees or plants is the carbon storage (Baes et al., 1977). In terms of atmospheric carbon reduction, trees in urban areas offer the double benefit of direct carbon storage and stability of natural ecosystem with increased recycling of nutrient along with maintenance of climatic conditions by biogeochemical processes. The study carried out by Thung Salang Luang National Park, Thailand. The specific objective of this study is to measure carbon sequestration rate and aboveground biomass carbon potential of these dominant plant species. Methodology Site description The study was conducted in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, located in Phitsanulok province, the Lower Northern part of Thailand, with latitude and longitudes of 16 ๐ 25 / - 16 ๐ 57 / N and 100 ๐ 37 / - 101 ๐ 00 / E. The site is mountainous and ranges in elevation between 400-1,003 m above sea level, surrounded by the five main watersheds such as Huai Klag Yai, Huai Klag Noi, Lam Nam Tum, Klong Chum Poo and Klong Wang Thong, so there are importance for producing water to Nan watershed. The geological formation of this study area is composed of sedimentary rock and metamorphic rock (Royal Forestry Department, 1990). The climate is tropical and sub-tropical with three distinct seasons such as: cold, hot and rainy. March to June are the hottest month with highest mean maximum temperature (29 ๐ C), and November to February are the coldest months with highest mean minimum temperature (17 ๐ C), and the mean temperature is 22 ๐ C. The maximum rainfall occurs during the monsoon season May to October with mean rainfall 1,300-1,700 mm. (Figure 1). The study area covers the secondary forest in the Thung Salang Luang National Park. Rainfall (mm) 500 400 300 200 100 0 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2010 2011 Month 50 40 30 20 10 0 Temperature ( o C) Rain fall (mm) Temperature (oc) Figure 1 Monthly rainfall (mm) and temperature ( C) from April 2010 to March 2011 at Protection Unit 12 of Thung Salang Luang National Park. (Source: Royal Irrigation Department telemetering weather station 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 2
Field experiment A one ha permanent plot (100 m x 100 m) was established in mixed deciduous forest at Thung Saleang Luang National park, lower northern, Thailand and subgridded into 100 quadrats (10 m x 10 m) for tree inventories. In each sub plot, all trees with Diameter Breast Height (DBH) > 4.5 cm were mapped. We then tacked the label number at the DBH level and collected the specimen which indentified in botanical name. Species compositions were examined. The data of inventories used for finding importance value index (IVI). Dominant species study by importance value index (IVI) Importance value index (IVI) of each sample plot was determined as follows: IVI = Relative density (%) + Relative frequency (%) + Relative dominance (%). Aboveground biomass The aboveground biomass in mixed deciduous forest was estimated by Equations 1-4 (Ogawa et al. 1965): Where Ws = 0.02903(D 2 H) 0.9813 (1) Wb = 0.0033487(D 2 H) 1.0270 (2) Wl = (28.0/Wtc+0.025) -1 (3) WT = Ws+Wb+Wl (4) Ws, Wb, Wl = dry weight of stems, branches and leaves of a tree, total biomass aboveground biomass (kg) Wtc = Ws + Wb WT = obtained by summing by the partial biomass (kg) Carbon content in aboveground biomass The carbon content of different biomasses such as stems, branches and leaves had been measured by taking 10 samples per fraction cover plot size area by estimation of carbon content using CHN Analyzer at Sivilculture department, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University (Parkin Elmer 2400 series II CHNS/O). A certain amount of biomass samples had been collected from the particular stems, branches and leaves and after being properly dried at 80 o C for 48 hr to gain a constant weight, the sample had been analyzed carbon content by above ground calculation. Results and Discussion Dominant species study by importance value index (IVI) A total plant composition in mixed deciduous forest. Thung Salang Luang National Park were 35 species. The dominant species of the trees were Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima and Lagerstroemia duperreana. The IVI values of trees were 132.91, 17.78 and 14.22, respectively. The dominant species of the saplings were the same similar to the seeding as, Haldina cordifolia, Fermandoa adenophylla and Harrisonia perforata. The IVI values of saplings were 102.31, 47.10 and 34.29, respectively. The IVI values of saplings were 113.74, 37.49 and 28.51, respectively (Table 1). 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 3
Table 1 Relative density, relative frequency, relative dominance and important value index of trees (DBH 4.5) in MDF plot Tree group Scientific name % Relative density % Relative frequency % Relative dominance % IVI Haldina cordifolia 49.34 78.62 4.94 132.91 Albizia odoratissima 5.58 7.27 4.94 17.78 Lagerstroemia duperreana 6.89 2.39 4.94 14.22 Fermandoa adenophylla 6.60 2.35 4.94 13.89 Croton roxburghii 5.00 1.15 4.94 11.08 Harrisonia perforata 3.35 2.62 4.94 10.91 Cratoxylum formosum 3.44 1.39 4.94 9.77 Dalbergia foliacea 3.49 1.13 4.94 9.57 Xylia xylocarpa 2.52 1.06 4.94 8.52 Antidesma sootepense 3.15 0.40 4.94 8.50 Aboveground biomass The aboveground biomass of the tree such as stems, branches and leaves have been collected and dried at laboratory, and the dry biomass of different sections of the tree are presented in Table 2. The result of carbon analysis through CHN Analyzer is presented in Table 3. It is observed for Haldina cordifolia that average leaf, stem and branch contained 43.32, 47.49, and 46.01% carbon, respectively. For Albizia odoratissima, average leaf, stem and branch contained 46.34, 45.98 and 46.61 % carbon, respectively. For Lagerstroemia duperreana, average leaf, stem and branch contained 47.61, 47.96 and 46.88 %. For Croton roxburghii, average leaf, stem and branch contained 45.29, 47.53 and 45.68 %. Carbon content of the tree was established by the works of different Scientists and Researchers, the carbon in plant was approximately 50% of dry matter (The world bank. 1998). The carbon concentration of different tree parts was rarely measured directly, but generally assumed to be 50% of the dry weight (Losi et al. 2003). Losi et al. (2003) obtained that measured carbon content of dry sample was 47.8% for Anacardium. excelsum and 48.5% for Dorstenia. panamensis. West (2003) reported in paper that Extensive studies in Australia recently of a variety of tree species showed above ground dry biomass generally contain 50% carbon. These proportions of carbon in aboveground biomass agreed closely with values of 49 and 47% reported from other parts of the world for Pinus taeda (Kinerson et al. 1977). The total carbon content presented in Table 4 of Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii were 4,531.76, 629.05, 5.25, 5.25 and 58.76 kg, respectively. Negi et al. (2003) reported that carbon content in Shorea robusta tree was 46%. 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 4
Table 2 Total aboveground dry biomass of the tree Tree Total dry weight (ton/ha) stem branch leaves biomass Haldina cordifolia 5143.87 4224.96 334.60 9703.43 Albizia odoratissima 782.41 531.11 46.91 1360.43 Lagerstroemia duperreana 161.69 93.57 91.16 346.42 Fermandoa adenophylla 199.86 118.17 11.36 329.39 Croton roxburghii 78.76 42.38 4.33 125.47 Table 3 Average result of carbon analysis of different parts of the tree Tree Albizia odoratissima Croton roxburghii Fermandoa adenophylla Haldina cordifolia Lagerstroemia duperreana Parts of the Carbon (%) tree Leaf 43.32 Stem 47.49 Branch 46.01 Leaf 46.34 Stem 45.98 Branch 46.61 Leaf 47.61 Stem 47.96 Branch 46.88 Leaf 46.24 Stem 47.46 Branch 45.57 Leaf 45.29 Stem 47.53 Branch 45.68 The carbon content of the whole tree (leaf, stem, branch) of Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii is shown in Table 4. 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 5
Table 4 Carbon content of the aboveground biomass Tree Parts of the tree Carbon (%) Total carbon content in tree species (kg ha - 1 ) Leaf 43.32 144.95 Haldina cordifolia Stem 47.49 2,443.03 Branch 46.01 1,943.78 Total carbon content in tree 45.61 4,531.76 Leaf 46.34 21.74 Albizia odoratissima Stem 45.98 359.75 Branch 46.61 247.55 Total carbon content in tree 46.31 629.05 Leaf 47.61 43.40 Lagerstroemia duperreana Stem 47.96 77.54 Branch 46.88 43.86 Total carbon content in tree 47.49 5.25 Leaf 46.24 94.85 Fermandoa adenophylla Stem 47.46 53.84 Branch 45.57 153.94 Total carbon content in tree 46.42 5.25 Leaf 45.29 1.96 Croton roxburghii Stem 47.53 37.44 Branch 45.68 19.36 Total carbon content in tree 46.17 58.76 Carbon pool partition of secondary forest of Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii is shown in Figure 2. It is estimated that annual above ground biomass carbon pools of dominant species were observed to yield in leaf partition maximum in Haldina cordifolia, Fermandoa adenophylla, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Albizia odoratissima and Croton roxburghii respectively, and stem partition maximum were Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii respectively, and branch partition Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Fermandoa adenophylla, Lagerstroemia duperreana and Croton roxburghii respectively, and all partition maximum were Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Fermandoa adenophylla, Lagerstroemia duperreana and Croton roxburghii respectively. 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 6
Kg C 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Leaf Stem Branch Total Carbon Pools Haldina cordifolia Albizia odoratissima Lagerstroemia duperreana Fermandoa adenophylla Croton roxburghii Figure 2 Portioning of above ground biomass carbon pools of dominant species such as: Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii Conclusion This study demonstrated carbon sequestration rate and aboveground biomass carbon potential of five dominate species such as: Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii. The article concludes that carbon sequestration rate from the ambient air as obtained by secondary forest at Thung Salaeng Luang National Park. Percentage of carbon content in the aboveground biomass of Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii were 45.61, 46.31, 47.49, 46.42 and 46.17 respectively. Total aboveground biomass carbon stock per hectare for Haldina cordifolia, Albizia odoratissima, Lagerstroemia duperreana, Fermandoa adenophylla and Croton roxburghii were 4,531.76 kg C ha -1, 629.05 kg C ha -1, 5.25 kg C ha -1, 5.25 kg C ha -1 and 58.76 kg C ha -1 respectively. Acknowledgement The research was supported by a CHE-Ph.D-SW-NEWU scholarship from the Commission on Higher Education, and by Uttaradit Rajabhat University. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is thanked for giving permission to access and collect data from the study area. 1 st Mae Fah Luang University International Conference 2012 7
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